Brad Bruhn begins his 12th season as Cortland’s wrestling coach in 2013-14. He has led the Red Dragons to top-30 NCAA Division III finishes in each of his first 11 seasons, including five top-10 and seven top-20 showings.
In 2012-13, Bruhn led Cortland to a ninth-place national finish and the championship at the first-ever NCAA Div. III Northeast Regional. Three of his wrestlers earned All-America honors. Cortland also finished 18-2 in dual matches to set a school single-season victory record.
In 2011-12, Bruhn led Cortland to a 10th-place national finish, an Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference (ECWC) team title and a 17-3 dual-meet record. Three of his wrestlers were All-Americans. Bruhn has guided the Red Dragons to four ECWC crowns since 2007.
In 2010-11, Bruhn's squad finished 14th nationally and second in the ECWC. The team featured two All-Americans. In 2009-10, Bruhn earned ECWC Coach of the Year honors for the third time. He guided the Red Dragons to a conference title and a 22nd place national showing with two All-Americans. In 2008-09, his Red Dragon squad placed second in the league and finished 19th at the NCAA Division III Championships. Among his wrestlers was a national runner-up.
In 2007-08, Bruhn led Cortland to an 11-0 dual-match record - the first undefeated mark in school history. The Red Dragons earned a share of the ECWC title, sent four competitors to the NCAA Championships (with one All-American) and tied for 28th nationally. Bruhn was chosen as ECWC Coach of the Year that season. In 2006-07, the Red Dragons tied for eighth nationally and won their first ECWC championship since 1999. Six Cortland wrestlers qualified for nationals and three earned All-America honors, including a national runner-up.
In 2005-06, Cortland placed sixth nationally, its highest finish since the 1995-96 season. The Red Dragons featured two All-Americans, including Cortland’s first individual national champion since 1990, and Bruhn earned ECWC Coach of the Year honors for the first time. In 2004-05, the Red Dragons placed 16th nationally with two All-Americans. In 2003-04, Cortland finished 10th in the nation with three All-Americans, while Bruhn’s 2002-03 squad had one All-American and tied for 25th nationally.
Bruhn’s teams have a combined 156-58-1 (.728) dual-match record and have won at least 10 matches each season. He ranks second among Cortland wrestling coaches in career victories. Cortland posted a 16-3 record in 2006-07, a 16-4 record in 2009-10 and a 16-9 mark in 2003-04. The Red Dragons also won 14 matches in 2010-11 and 13 matches in both 2002-03 and 2005-06. Cortland finished second at the ECWC Championships in both 2003-04 and 2005-06.
Prior to his arrival at Cortland, Bruhn was the assistant wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse during the 1997-98, 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. In that time, the wrestling teams placed third, second and fourth, respectively, at the Division III Championships. Bruhn has also served as the head wrestling coach at Centaurus High School (Colo.), leading the squad to a second-place finish at the state championships. He had five wrestlers earn all-state honors and one claim a state title.
Bruhn is a 1997 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education Teaching with an emphasis in Coaching Competitive Athletics. In 2002, he earned his Masters of Science in Exercise and Sports - Physical Education Teaching from Wisconsin-La Crosse.
He was a three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American and earned All-America honors at 126 pounds in 1995. During his career at Wisconsin-La Crosse, Bruhn was named Most Valuable Freshman, Most Improved Wrestler, team captain and was crowned a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) champion. He was also named to the Dean’s List five times.
Born in Cadott, Wis., Bruhn is a 1992 alumnus of Cadott High School. He competed in wrestling and track and field for four years.
